• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.128-131
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate inhibitory effect of extracts from Artemisia capillaris Thumb. on maltase, sucrase, ${\alpha}-amylase$, nonspecific ${\alpha}-glucosidase$, and postprandial hyperglycemia. Methanol extract and organic solvent (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, aqueous) fractions from the medicinal herb were determined for the inhibitory activities against maltase, sucrase and ${\alpha}-amylase$. The methanol extract from A. capillaris strongly inhibited maltase (57%) and ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ (72%) at the concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Among the four fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, aqueous) examined, the butanol fraction from A. capillaris showed potent inhibitory effects on maltase (73%), sucrase (33%), and ${\alpha}-amylase$ (75%) at the concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The butanol fraction from Artemisia capillaris also exhibited significant reductions (20%) of blood glucose elevation in mice loaded with maltose. These results suggest that the extract from Artemisia capillaris can be used as a new nutraceutical for inhibition on postprandial hyperglycemia